Cartier Foundation: A New Vision for the Future of Art and Architecture
Cartier Foundation: Transformations in Its Future Location
Moving to the Venice Biennale 2025
If you miss the renowned home of the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art on Boulevard Raspail, there is an exciting opportunity to explore its accompanying exhibition at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale. The Foundation will organize this event at the Giorgio Cini Foundation, located on the historically and aesthetically rich island of San Giorgio Maggiore. It is expected that the exhibition will serve as a glimpse of what’s to come in the future building designed by Jean Nouvel, offering a new and contemporary concept for both art and architecture.
An Overview of the Exhibition and the New Structure
The exhibition to be displayed in Venice highlights significant milestones in the Foundation’s development, particularly with the expectations surrounding the new structure designed by Jean Nouvel. The pre-exhibition demonstrates what the upcoming Cartier Foundation building will look like, which will be vastly different from the current one. The exhibition will provide an opportunity to explore the architectural future of this cultural institution through architectural designs and visual presentations.
Opening the New Building: A Vision for the Future
Once the new building opens on October 25, 2025, it is expected to mark a significant shift in how art exhibitions and cultural projects are presented. The exhibition in Venice may be considered a warm-up for this grand opening, offering an initial look at how modern architecture will merge with an immersive art experience that places artists and the audience at the center of the event.
The Cartier Foundation’s Move to a New Location in Paris: A Radical Change
The Surprise Move to the Palais Royal Square
The announcement of the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art’s relocation in Paris from its current location on Boulevard Raspail, designed by Jean Nouvel in 1994, to a new building in the 19th-century Palais Royal Square has caused a great deal of surprise within cultural and artistic circles. This change is not merely a shift in location but carries with it a new vision for presenting the arts in the 21st century.
A New Design, An Immersive Experience
The new building, also designed by Jean Nouvel, is situated within an existing historic structure in the heart of Paris. This project is expected to offer an immersive and dynamic art experience that seeks to integrate modern architectural elements with the rich cultural history of the location. This step represents an ambition to present a holistic art experience that aligns with the needs of the 21st century, through a design that enhances interaction between art and the audience.
A Shift in the Presentation of the Arts
The vision is for the new building to be more than just a place to display artworks; it is intended to be a meeting point between art, technology, and dynamic experience. The Foundation aims to explore new possibilities for how art is experienced, moving away from the traditional format of exhibitions to offer visitors an interactive environment that resonates with the aspirations of the present age.
Innovation in the Location: A New Vision for the Foundation
Innovation in Execution and Design
When relocating to such a distinguished location with a rich history and strategic position, it becomes essential to innovate in how art is presented. As Jean Nouvel stated, “Moving to such a significant location, both in terms of site and history, requires a form of innovation. What is being innovated is not necessarily visible in steel or stone. The space stands out in a different way in execution: a way of envisioning how to enable artists to express with the utmost power.” These words emphasize that innovation in design is not limited to the external form of the building but also encompasses the way art is presented and how the audience interacts with the artworks.
Boldness and Courage in Presenting Art
Nouvel points out that the new location demands “boldness and courage,” qualities that artists may not always be able to express in traditional institutional settings. This new challenge opens the door for the Cartier Foundation to become “the institution that offers the greatest distinction in its spaces, exhibition forms, and the most diverse perspectives.” Thus, the Foundation aims to activate artistic experiences that go beyond the known traditional frameworks, enabling actions that are not possible elsewhere, through reimagining the display system and offering a renewed artistic experience.
Opening the New Building: Glimpses of the Future
The Venice Exhibition: A Preview of the New Building
The new Cartier Foundation building is expected to open next fall, but the recently opened exhibition in Venice offers an early glimpse of what is to come. The exhibition provides visitors with the opportunity to explore large-scale drawings of the building’s design, as well as immersive photos and a film that reflect the essence of the architectural concept behind the new project.
Construction Details and Dynamic Experience
One of the standout features of the exhibition is the drawings that highlight the construction details and the atmosphere of various areas within the building. This includes a showcase of the building’s characteristics, such as movable platforms and its adaptive nature, reflecting the continuous interaction between architecture and art. A generous model of the building is also displayed, arranged in a way that allows visitors to explore its interior, enhancing the immersive experience and providing them with a sense of the dynamic possibilities of the new structure.
The Impact of the Exhibition on the Future of Art and Architecture
Inspiring Discussions and Thinking About the Future
There is no doubt that the exhibition in Venice will encourage visitors to explore the new Cartier Foundation space once it becomes available. More than just presenting a vision for the building, the exhibition will inspire discussions about the future of art exhibitions, cultural architecture, and interdisciplinary creativity. These topics will remain central to the development of modern cultural institutions, which aim to transcend traditional concepts of architectural and artistic spaces.
A Public Program Accompanying the Exhibition
A public program is expected to accompany the exhibition, featuring a group of prominent names in the fields of architecture and art. Among the participants in this program are Jean Nouvel, the architect behind the design of the new building, as well as Cecilia Boiga, Andrés Jaque, Lina Ghotmeh, Manuel Segadi, and Antoine Becon. These participants will provide valuable insights into how art exhibitions and architecture will evolve in the future, enriching the experience and expanding the discussion on what can be achieved through collaboration between the arts and architectural design.
